Notes and quotes for January 2019

Updated December 28, 2018

By Mike LewisWork continues on what will become a Verizon Wireless store in the Kensington Commercial Center, which is being developed off Eastern Boulevard North in Hagerstown, Md. Taylor Bowen of Berkshire Hathaway Bowen Realty said a “small strip center” of about 22,500 square feet will be built behind the Verizon store, which is the single outbuilding in the development. Some spaces are still available for lease in the development, Bowen said.

Things seen and overheard around the region last month, compiled by reporter Mike Lewis:

By Mike LewisBen Kimbro, director of public affairs for Harvest Inc.

‘You’ve done it right’

“I think you all (in Maryland) have done a great job. You’ve done it right. … We’re creating a medical product here. We don’t cut corners.”

— Ben Kimbro, director of public affairs for Harvest Inc., a medical cannabis company. He praised Maryland’s medical cannabis program, including its testing requirements, during a recent appearance in Hagerstown, Md.

Nursing program accredited

FREDERICK, Md. — The Hood College bachelor-degree nursing program has received 10-year accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

The program is fully accredited through 2028.

Linda Kennedy, chairwoman of the department, called the accreditation “a wonderful accomplishment for our program and our work together to prepare the nurses of the 21st century.”

Hood’s program received initial accreditation in 2013 when its four-year nursing degree began. To receive a full, 10-year accreditation, the nursing faculty completed an extensive self-study prior to a CCNE campus visit in February.

New year, new password?

The folks at United States Cybersecurity Magazine are again warning people about the safety of online passwords.

Small wonder, considering the No 1. most-popular password of 2017 was 123456, according to the magazine. It also reports that:

• 21 percent of people use a password that is 10 years old.

• 47 percent use a password that is 5 years old.

• 73 percent of online accounts are comprised of duplicate passwords.

Some tips: Use long passwords that include letters, numbers and symbols. And use two-factor authentication to provide a extra layer of security.

Older region

The Crossroads Business Journal region’s population trends older than that of the nation as a whole, according to figures from DataUSA.